The Washington critic., 1887-07-08
THE LAFAYETTE PORTRAIT.
When It Was Painted and Presented
to the House of Representatives.


to the House of Representatives.
EDITOR Critic: Allow me to correct
an error which appears in the very in.
teresting communication from Mr..
Frank q. Carpenter on General Lafay-
cite, published In your paper Of FRI
day, July /. He says;
"One of the best paintings of La
fayette Is that which hangs In the
House Of Representatives. 1t was
painted by AIRY Shelter (Schaeffer) and
the artist took sketch for It of Lafay.
ette as he lay upon his death bed.
He was aided also by sketch which
Lafayette's eldest daughter made at
this time, and suppose by the plaster
cast which was made by the sculptor,
David"
General Lafayette died In 1884, and
Schaefrer's portrait of him was hang.
ing in the Capitol at Washington ten
years before, as will appear from the
following very interesting extracts
from the journals of Congress. Gen.
eral Lafayette's last visit to the United
States was In 1924, when he was about
67 years of age. The portrait was then
hanging In the rotunda, and as Henry
Clay said: THE grateful public were
able, In consequence of the presence of
General Lafayette to test Its perfect
fidelity to the original"
THURSDAY, Dec. %, 1924 The Speaker laid
before the House the following communlca-
tion:
paris, Oct. IL. 1894
"SIR: send by the ship Cadmus, Captain
Francis Allyn, who has kindly, promised to
take 1t on to washington, fulllength por'
which pray you to do me the honor to ac
cept for the hall of the House Of Representa-
tiyes, over which you preside.
"As the friend and admirer OF General La
fayette and OF American liberty, feel happy
way. my grateful Feelings for ths National
States are, at this moment, bostowing on the
friend and companions in.arms OF your Illus.
trions Washington, on the man who has been
% Aoep Fsseyfa % oy Ss a hS aSoSs Ns ss
mony of my sentiments, for your country and
for my venerable friend, the sincere assurance
of my profound respect.
ITO the Hon. the Speaker Of the House of
Representatives, u. s., Washington"
HThe Speaker mentioned to the
House that the portrait had not been
received by him at this time.
The following is copy of the letter
written by the Speaker TO Mr. Schaeffer
of Paris, in obedience to an order of
the House:
WAsnINGToN, end March, 1895.
SIR: duly received your letter OF the 10th
October, 1884, dated at Paris, stating that you
had sent by Captain Allyn, in the ship Cad
lafayette, painted By you, oi which You DC. de
sired the acceptance for. the hall Of the House
Of Representatives. shortly after the re-
SSepedy et Of aasa hs Sn was aey s
your letter before the House, and commu
nicated to 1t that the portrait was In tho Gus
tody Of its officers, am directed, by a reso-
thanks for this very valua bic testimony of
your Obliging attention. The portrait ITSELF
having been suspended in the rotunda of the
Capitol, of which II formed beautiful orna-
ment. the glatiiied public were able, In conse.
quence of the presence Of General Lafayette
to test Its perfect fidelity to the original, and
piicty Which dstinguishes si it. T ANXIOUS ut to
have our beloved friend always near us, your
faithful pencil enables US to realize that
wish.
Itake great pleasure in adding assurances
OF my respectful consideration,
Speaker of the House Of Representatives.
The first of the foregoing letters may
be found In House Journal of the
Eighteenth Congress, second session,
pages 1916, and the second ON page
306 Of the same volume.
think It adds value and interest to
the portrait to know that 1t was taken
Of the living man, and not post. NOR.
TEN production, which latter always
calls for efforts of memory and imag.
instion, and they are always failures.
On the 9th of December. 1924, Gen.
eral Lafayette was conducted to the
Senate chamber by the committee ap.
pointed for that purpose and formally
introduced by Hon. James Barbour Of
Virginia, chairman of the committee.
A seat was assigned him on the right of
the presiding officer, Hon. Daniel d.
Tompkins, Vice. President, whereupon
the Senate adjourned to allow indi.
vidual expressions of respect.
On the next day, according to ar.
rangement, the members of the Senate
at the hour appointed entered the Hall
of the House, where seats were assigned
them. The House Committee of
Twenty. four Zone from each State) then
conducted General Lafayette to the
area in front of the Speakers chair.
where he was formally introduced by
Hon. George Il. Mitchell of Maryland.
After an address by the Speaker, Henry
Clay, and q response from General
Lafayette, the House adjourned for the
usual individual handshaking.
CHARLES ALBERT.
Homcwood, near Norbeck, Mont.
gomery County, Nd, July A, 1887.